Flexible and rigid touch screen display computing devices

ABSTRACT

Reconfigurable touch screen computing devices with folding configurations that include flexible and rigid displays which are made up of segments that can be reconfigured from a compact state to an expanded state. The form factor of the compact state is roughly the size of a typical handheld phone, with an integrated speaker and microphone. The form factor of the expanded state is roughly the size of a tablet computer which may also include the mechanical functionality of a laptop. Both states may provide a configuration which includes a touch screen display on a front side and a protective housing on a back side. The computing devices may further include sensors to indicate the state of configuration and mechanisms for alignment, locking, and structural support. In one embodiment, a module attached to, situated within, or otherwise associated with at least one segment may contain all or substantially all processing and memory, along with a communications system, all of which may be used in either state.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/237,484, filed Dec. 31, 2018, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/206,333, filed Aug. 9, 2011, whichclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/372,391, filed on Aug. 10, 2010. The specifications of which areincorporated in their entirety herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to computing devices, and moreparticularly, to a computing device with a touch screen display that canbe reconfigured from a compact state to an expanded state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of handheld computing devices today has been significantlyenabled by a number of advancements in electronics, including theminiaturization of components, an increase in processing speeds,improved memory capacity, and the optimization of battery efficiency.Advancements in touch screen display technology have also enabledinterfaces to become more adaptable and intuitive to use on a smallscale. Because of these enormous improvements over the last decade, thedifferences in the performance between handheld computing devices, suchas mobile phones, and larger computing devices, have become increasinglysubtle.

One of the great difficulties in using a small scale touch screendevice, however, is in the fact that it can often be cumbersome tophysically interact with. This is especially apparent when selecting andmanipulating features and inputting text, which can sometimes beimprecise for a user. Additionally, in such handheld computing devicesas a touch screen mobile phone, the limited size of the display cansignificantly reduce the viewing capacity of graphic-intensiveapplications, watching videos, and reading text.

There is therefore a need for touch screen displays having increasedsize without sacrificing the convenience of a small device.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

To mitigate the difficulties associated with a small scale touch screen,variations on flexible displays and the implementation of multiplescreen displays have been proposed to enable the transformation of adisplay from a compact state to an expanded state. Although the use offlexible displays and multiple screen displays offer the advantages of atransformation in scale, there are still a number of limitations to howthey can be implemented. For example, since a flexible display has aradius when folded, it is difficult to configure multiple segments intoa completely flat and compact position. If a flexible display is to beused as a touch screen, a reconfigurable structure and an alignmentlocking mechanism would be advantageous if integrated as a supportsystem. An optimized flexible circuit and folding configuration wouldalso be beneficial to increase a display's expansion ratio from acompact state to a fully deployed state for both flexible and multiplescreen displays, especially if expanded out to a full scale tablet orlaptop form factor.

There is a need for a computing device that can retain the form factorand functionality of a phone, while also providing a touch screendisplay that can be reconfigured from a compact state to an expandedstate, with an optimized expansion ratio and folding configuration.Furthermore, there is a need for a graphical user interface thatfacilitates the transition of content from one state to another. Such aninterface would ultimately facilitate a user's physical interaction witha computing device and provide the option of rescaling and viewingcontent on both a small scale display and a large scale display.

A reconfigurable touch screen computing device with foldingconfigurations is disclosed. The touch screen display may be made up ofsegments coupled to a flexible circuit and can be reconfigured from acompact state to an expanded state. The form factor of the compact statemay be roughly the size of a typical handheld phone, optionally with anintegrated speaker and microphone. The form factor of the expanded statemay be roughly the size of a tablet computer, which may also include themechanical functionality of a laptop. According to some embodiments ofthe invention, both states may provide a configuration that includes atouch screen display on a front side and a protective housing on a backside. The computing device may further include sensors that indicate toa processor the state of configuration.

According to embodiments of the invention, a graphical user interfacemethod is also provided to facilitate the transition of content from onescreen state to another. A module situated within at least one segmentmay contain all processing and memory, along with a communicationssystem, which can be used in both states.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification.The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation,together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following detailed description when readwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1a is an exploded view of one embodiment of a foldable computingdevice configured with a flexible touch screen display having foursegments and a single rigid touch screen display;

FIG. 1b is an exploded view of one embodiment of a foldable computingdevice configured with a flexible touch screen display having twosegments and a single rigid touch screen display;

FIG. 1c is an exploded view of one embodiment of a foldable computingdevice configured with a flexible touch screen display having twosegments and a single rigid touch screen display;

FIG. 1d is an exploded view of one embodiment of a foldable computingdevice configured with a rigid touch screen display having foursegments;

FIG. 2a is a diagram of a folding sequence for one embodiment of a touchscreen display configuration for a computing device;

FIG. 2b is a diagram of a folding sequence for one embodiment of a touchscreen display configuration for a computing device;

FIG. 2c is a diagram of folding sequences for two different embodimentsof a touch screen display configuration for a computing device;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the basic functions of a computingdevice in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the transition of content from a compactscreen display to an expanded screen display in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a flexible circuit for a computing device inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the flexible circuit from FIG. 5 emphasizingthe sections for each touch screen segment of one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a sliding connector from the flexiblecircuit illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the back panels, flexible circuit housing andmechanical features for one embodiment of a touch screen computingdevice;

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a folding sequence of two touch screen displaypanels being reconfigured in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional diagram of a folding sequence for two touchscreen display panels in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 11 is a diagram of a folding sequence showing a frame hinge inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a diagram of an alignment locking mechanism in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a view of a touch screen computing device shown in differentstates with a support structure having magnets, sensors and hinges alongone folding axis;

FIG. 14 is a view of a touch screen computing device shown in differentstates with a support structure having magnets, sensors, and hingesalong multiple folding axes;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the transition of content on areconfigurable touch screen display from a compact screen state to anexpanded screen state through a graphical user interface;

FIG. 16 is a view of one embodiment of a computing device showing thetransition of two areas of content from a compact screen state to anexpanded screen state;

FIG. 17 is a view of one embodiment of a computing device showing thetransition of two areas of content from a compact screen state to anexpanded screen state;

FIG. 18 is a view of one embodiment of a computing device showing thetransition of one area of content from a compact screen state to anexpanded screen state;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a diagram for a computing device in acompact state showing a folding sequence for a speaker;

FIG. 20 is a side view of a diagram for a computing device in a compactstate showing a folding sequence for a speaker;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a diagram for a computing device in acompact state showing a folding sequence for a microphone;

FIG. 22 is a side view of a diagram for a computing device in a compactstate showing a folding sequence for a microphone;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a computing devicewith a flexible screen shown in three different diagrams;

FIG. 24a is a diagram of a folding sequence for one embodiment of acomputing device being reconfigured from a phone state to a tablet statewhich includes a flexible touch screen display having four segments andan additional housing for a single rigid touch screen display;

FIG. 24b is a diagram of a folding sequence for one embodiment of acomputing device being reconfigured from a phone state to a tablet statewhich includes a flexible touch screen display having four segments andan additional housing for a single rigid touch screen display;

FIG. 25a is a diagram of a folding sequence for one embodiment of acomputing device being reconfigured from a phone state to a tablet statewhich includes a flexible touch screen display having two segments andan additional housing for a single rigid touch screen display;

FIG. 25b is a diagram of a folding sequence for one embodiment of acomputing device being reconfigured from a phone state to a tablet statewhich includes a flexible touch screen display having two segments andan additional housing for a single rigid touch screen display;

FIG. 26a is a diagram of a folding sequence for one embodiment of acomputing device being reconfigured from a phone state to a tablet statewhich includes a flexible touch screen display having two segments andan additional housing for a single rigid touch screen display;

FIG. 26b is a diagram of a folding sequence for one embodiment of acomputing device being reconfigured from a phone state to a tablet statewhich includes a flexible touch screen display having two segments andan additional housing for a single rigid touch screen display;

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale.For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements for clarity. Further, where consideredappropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures toindicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention.However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that thepresent invention may be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have notbeen described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.

Although embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard,discussions utilizing terms such as, for example, “processing,”“computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” “establishing”, “analyzing”,“checking”, or the like, may refer to operation(s) and/or process(es) ofa computer, a computing platform, a computing system, or otherelectronic computing device, that manipulates and/or transforms datarepresented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within thecomputer's registers and/or memories into other data similarlyrepresented as physical quantities within the computer's registersand/or memories or other information non-transitory storage medium thatmay store instructions to perform operations and/or processes. Althoughembodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard, the terms“plurality” and “a plurality” as used herein may include, for example,“multiple” or “two or more”. The terms “plurality” or “a plurality” maybe used throughout the specification to describe two or more components,devices, elements, units, parameters, or the like. Unless explicitlystated, the method embodiments described herein are not constrained to aparticular order or sequence. Additionally, some of the described methodembodiments or elements thereof can occur or be performedsimultaneously, at the same point in time, or concurrently.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1 a, an explodedview of a foldable computing device is shown configured with a flexibletouch screen display 19 having four segments 11, 13, 15, and 17, whichare partially enclosed within four respective end housings 21, 23, 25,and 27, that are also each supported at their back sides by fourrespective structural housings 53, 50, 47, and 52. Each structuralhousing also supports plate mechanisms 41, 29, 45, and 33 that can slidebetween each flexible display segment to provide either locking and/orstructural support so that the backing can remain in a rigid state whenthe devices is unfolded allowing the flexible display to have a flatsupport for when a user is interacting with its touch screen interface.An actuating element 37 may also be utilized as a primary means forforcing each plate mechanism to slide in between the two structuralhousing and respective flexible display segments it is designated toprovide support for. This actuating element 37 may be rotated through astrut 40 that can be manually slid by the user of the device from anexternal point allowing the plate mechanisms to be slid into place allsimultaneously. Magnets 38 and 58 may also be integrated within eachstructural housing segment such that they can provide a means forlocking the device in a folded state or an expanded state. A rigid touchscreen display 60 is also included in the assembly and contained withinfolded screen housing 63 which can hinge along the long edge ofstructural housing 52 which corresponds with segment 17 of flexibledisplay 19. A speaker 56 held within speaker housing 59 may also beincluded along the front side of rigid touch screen display. The objectof folded screen housing 63 and rigid touch screen display 60 andspeaker 56 is to provide an additional module that can flip to the frontor back side of the assembly allowing the device to be transformed intoa phone state one the flexible touch screen display has been fullyfolded. This is further shown in FIGS. 24 a and 24 b.

Similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 a, the exemplary embodimentfrom FIG. 1 b shows an exploded view of a foldable computing deviceconfigured with a flexible touch screen display 87 having two segments80 and 81 situated opposite each other such that they can be folded flatagainst each other either face to face or back to back. Flexible displaysegments 80 and 81 are also supported by structural housings 83 and 85and sit above additional structural supports 93 and 92 respectively. Asingle rigid touch screen display 96 is also included in the assemblyand contained within folded screen housing 99 with a speaker 84 andspeaker housing 70, all of which may be attached at the long edge ofsegment 80 of flexible display 87 such that it can rotate to the frontside or the back side of the assembly depending on how the flexibledisplay is folded, allowing the device to be transformed into a phonestate. The flexible touch screen display 87 is further supported byplate mechanism 75 which slides underneath flexible display 87 toprovide structural support between segments 80 and 81. This same platemechanism 75 may also provide an alignment locking feature so that thetwo segments can be locked in an expanded state. When plate mechanism 75is slid back to segment 80 underneath structural housing 83 and abovestructural support 93, the device can then be folded back to a phonestate. Slots 76 and 77 that sit within plate mechanism 75 engage withand slide along their respective posts which sit below on structuralsupports 92 and 93 and include posts 74 and 94. Strut 72 acts as amechanism that is manually operable by the user of the device to slideplate mechanism 75 in between segments 80 and 81 for structural supportand locking. Hinge components 89 and 91 which are attached betweenstructural supports 92 and 93 provide a mechanism that allows flexibledisplay segments 80 and 81 to be folded against each other. Magnets 64and 66 may sit flat within structural supports 92 and 93 to provide ameans for allowing the device to be locked in the folded state.Similarly, additional magnets may be included to attract and lock thetwo flexible display segments 80 and 81 when they are being situated inan expanded tablet state. The embodiment in FIG. 1 b correspondsdirectly with the device design shown with folding sequences in FIG. 25a and FIG. 25 b.

FIG. 1 c shows the same embodiment with the same core components anddevice features as illustrated in FIG. 1 c except that the rigid touchscreen display 96 sits within folded screen housing 97 where the frontpart of the display faces downward away from the core assembly alongwith speaker 84 and speaker housing 70 also situated at the front face.Hinge 88 may be made up of a rigid material or a partially flexiblematerial to allow the edge of rigid touch screen display to be foldedfrom the front side to the back side along the long edge of segment 80of flexible touch screen display 87. This folding configuration ishighlighted in FIGS. 26 a and 26 b. The advantage of this configurationis that the rigid touch screen display 801, as shown in the FIG. 26 a,can be folded to a phone state on the back side of the device when theflexible touch screen display 811 is folded, or it can be folded to thesame plane as flexible touch screen display 811 when it is situated inan expanded tablet state so that rigid touch screen display 801 can actas an additional display to be used alongside flexible touch screendisplay 811 simultaneously. Rigid touch screen display 801 from FIG. 26b, which again corresponds to display 96 in FIG. 1 c, while flexibletouch screen display 811 in FIG. 26 b corresponds with flexible touchscreen display 87 in FIG. 26 a, may be further folded flat in betweenflexible display segments 803 and 805 such that the device can be fullyclosed without any of its displays exposed on the outside.

FIG. 1 d is an exploded view of one embodiment of a foldable computingdevice configured with a rigid touch screen display having foursegments. This embodiment directly corresponds with the embodiment shownin FIG. 2 a and the mechanical plate mechanism assembly shown in FIG. 12which may also be used with a flexible display as shown in FIG. 1 a.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2 a, a computingdevice 100 is shown with a reconfigurable touch screen display. Thediagram of FIG. 2 a further illustrates a folding sequence for thecomputing device 100 having four touch screen display segments which areshown in five different positions. Each position illustrates therotation of a segment or set of segments along different axes, such thatthe entire display can be reconfigured from an open state, shown in thefirst position at the left side of the sequence, to a compact state,shown in the fifth position at the right side of the sequence. Both theopen state and the compact state provide a back side with a protectivehousing, and a front side with a touch screen display. The open stateposition, shown in the first position on the left side of the foldingsequence, illustrates a touch screen display made up of segments 101,103, 105, and 107, which ultimately provides the general aspect ratioand dimensions of a tablet form factor. The closed state, alternatively,provides the functionality, general aspect ratio and dimensions of aphone with a slate form factor, which ultimately integrates a speaker108 and a microphone 106. Each display segment also has a rectangularshape based off of the general aspect ratio of a phone with a slate formfactor, which can vary anywhere from 3:2 to 21:9. A screen with a 4.3″length and a resolution of 854×480, which has an aspect ratio of 16:9,is also an ideal screen size for each segment.

In addition to the touch screen display segments from the exemplaryembodiment shown in FIG. 2 a, a computing module 110 which contains someor substantially all processing, peripheral ports, communicationscircuitry, a battery and additional core electronics, may be coupled tosegment 107. It will be recognized the additional electronics can alsobe housed in other segments, such as additional batteries and sensors.Microphone 106 may also be situated on an outside edge 116 of computingmodule 110, which can be seen located on the under middle side of thetablet state as it transitions in the second position. In the fifthposition of the folding sequence, microphone 106 can also be seen on thesame outside edge 116 of computing module 110, but in a functionalposition for the phone state, since it ends up with a location on theopposite side of speaker 108. A push button, which is used for switchingthe screen output from the tablet state configuration to the phone stateconfiguration, and a headphone jack are situated on outside edge 104 ofsegment 107, which can also be seen in the second position from the leftin the folding sequence. Having computing module 110 located in thelower right corner of the entire screen configuration coupled to segment107, ultimately allows all four segments to fold in such a way that theycan be positioned with access to the push button and the headphone jackalong outside edge 104 while in both an open position and a compactposition. This configuration also allows for a smooth transition withoutany interference between the large size of the housing for computingmodule 110 and all other segments during folding. Similarly, an externalport can be accessed along outside edge 116 from underneath computingdevice 100 when it is in a tablet state, and then again along the sideof computing device 100 when it is in a phone state, which can be seenin the fifth position from the folding sequence in FIG. 2 a.

To elaborate on the specifics of the folding sequence shown in FIG. 2 a,a description of each segment's axis and direction of rotation will beexplained with further detail. It is important to recognize that eachsegment has a front side having a touch screen display and a back sidehaving a protective housing. In the first position of computing device100, shown on the left side of the folding sequence diagram, all fourtouch screen display segments are positioned in an open tablet state. Inthe second position of the folding sequence diagram, two folds areillustrated. The first fold is made up of segment 105 which is attachedto segment 101 and is rotated downward along axis 118 with frame hinge112, such that both segments and their back faces will be tangent witheach other when fully rotated. The second fold illustrated in the secondposition of the folding sequence diagram from FIG. 2 a, is made up ofsegment 107 which is attached to segment 103 and rotated upward, in thereverse direction of segment 105, along axis 118 with frame hinge 102.The result of these rotations can be seen in the third position from theleft of the folding sequence diagram where segment 105 ends up beingsituated underneath segment 101, while segment 107 ends up beingsituated above segment 103. Because of the opposing directions that bothhalves of the initial configuration rotate in to achieve a back sidewith a protective housing and a front side with a touch screen displayin the final configuration, an “asymmetrical folding” pattern isimplemented. This same concept is also applied for other embodiments ofthe invention, which will be discussed in more detail for FIGS. 1 b and2. Another crucial feature that is shown in the second position of thefolding diagram in FIG. 2 a is latch 122. Latch 122 is essentially anelement that allows segment 107 to attach with segment 105 and consistsof a hook situated along the frame edge of segment 107, which canmanually or automatically engage with a pins on the frame edge ofsegment 105. For connections that are manually locked, a sliding orrotational mechanism can be accessed by a user along the same edge aslatch 122 to lock or unlock the connection. Latch 122 from segment 107may also attach with the frame edge of segment 105 through magneticmeans, or through the use of a variety of other kinds of mechanisms aswell. Along the broader frame edges for each segment, which can be seeninitially on the left and right sides in the first position of computingdevice 100 in FIG. 2 a, magnets may also be housed to provide a meansfor connecting and aligning each of the segments as they are folded flatagainst each other to transition to the phone state. To elaboratefurther on the folding sequence, in the fourth position of the diagram,segments 107 and 103 are then rotated downward along axis 120 with framehinge 114, such that the back face of segment 103 ends up in a positionthat is tangent with the front face of segment 105. In the fifth andfinal position of the folding sequence, the phone state is shown wherethe back side of computing module 110 is situated on the underside ofthe phone configuration, while segment 101 with speaker 108 is situatedon the top side of the phone configuration. Although it is ideal to havecomputing module 110 located on the underside of the finalconfiguration, especially because of the use and integration of a camerain this final position, computing module 110, with all its associatedperipheral ports and features, may also be integrated with any othersegment of computing device 100.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2 b, acomputing device 109 is shown with a reconfigurable touch screendisplay. The diagram of FIG. 2 b further illustrates a folding sequencefor the computing device 109 having eight touch screen display segmentswhich are shown in six different positions. Each position illustratesthe rotation of a set of segments along different axes, such that theentire display can be reconfigured from an open state, shown in thefirst position at the top of the sequence, to a compact state, shown inthe sixth position at the bottom of the sequence. Both the open stateand the compact state provide a back side with a protective housing, anda front side with a touch screen display. The open state position at thetop of the folding sequence shows two primary areas of touch screendisplay segments, one half being made up of segments 111, 113, 115, and117, and the other half being made up of segments 119, 121, 123, and125. Both of these segment areas can be rotated about a central axis 129through a mechanical hinge located between segments 115 and 119, whichultimately provides the mechanical functionality, general aspect ratioand dimensions of a small laptop form factor, which can also be foldedflat into a tablet. The closed state, alternatively, provides thefunctionality, general aspect ratio and dimensions of a phone with aslate form factor. Similar to what was indicated for computing device100 in FIG. 2 a, each display segment from computing device 109 in FIG.2 b also has a rectangular shape based off of the general aspect ratioof a phone with a slate form factor. A display with a 4.3″ length and aresolution of 854×480, which has an aspect ratio of 16:9, is also anideal screen size for each segment.

In addition to the touch screen display segments from the exemplaryembodiment shown in FIG. 2 b, a computing module 127 which contains allprocessing, peripheral ports, communications circuitry, a battery andall additional core electronics, is also coupled to segment 125. Asmentioned with FIG. 2 a, additional electronics may also be housed inother segments, such as additional batteries and sensors for computingdevice 109. Having the computing module 127 located in the lower cornerof the entire screen configuration coupled to segment 125, ultimatelyallows all eight segments to fold in such a way that they can bepositioned with access to the peripheral ports located on the edges ofcomputing module 127, while in both an open position and a compactposition. This configuration also allows for a smooth transition withoutany interference between the large size of the housing for the computingmodule 127 and all other segments during folding.

To elaborate on the specifics of the folding sequence shown in FIG. 2 b,a detailed description of each segment's axis and direction of rotationwill be further explained. It is important to recognize that eachsegment has a front side having a touch screen display and a back sidehaving a protective housing. Computing device 109 also implements anasymmetrical folding pattern, similar to what was illustrated in FIG. 2a. The primary difference between the two sequences is in the fact thatthe sequence shown in FIG. 2 b is for a computing device which useseight segments, whereby one half of the device, which includes foursegments, folds in one direction, while the other half, which alsoincludes four segments, folds in the opposite direction. This may befurther understood through a description of each individual positionillustrated. In the first position of computing device 109, shown at thetop of the folding sequence diagram, all eight touch screen displaysegments are positioned in an open laptop state, where axis 129 allowsthe top four segments to be rotated down to a closed laptop state, orfully rotated back, providing a tablet state. In the second positionfrom the top of the folding sequence diagram, two folds are illustrated.The first fold is made up of segments 111 and 113 which are attached tosegments 115 and 117 and rotated along axis 113, such that both sets ofsegments and their back faces will be tangent with each other when fullyrotated. The result of this full rotation can be seen in the thirdposition down from the top of the folding sequence diagram, wheresegments 115 and 117 and their touch screen displays are showing, whiletheir back sides are touching the back sides of segments 111 and 113.

In the second position of the folding sequence shown in FIG. 2 b, asecond fold is also illustrated with segments 119 and 121 which areattached to segments 123 and 125 and are rotated along axis 133. Thisfold is rotated in the same direction that segments 111 and 113 arefolded with segments 115 and 117, but with different results because oftheir contrasting position relative to the entire configuration. Withsegments sets 119, 121, and 123, 125, a full rotation instead positionseach set with its touch screen display sides tangent with the touchscreen display sides of the other. This can be seen in the thirdposition of the folding sequence diagram where segments 123 and 125 areshown with their back sides facing up and their touch screen displaysides facing down along the surface of the touch screen display sides ofsegments 119 and 121.

Additionally in FIG. 2 b, a fourth position of computing device 109 isshown in the folding sequence diagram where two more folds areillustrated. These two folds contain two sets of segments which are theresult of previous folds. The first fold is along axis 135, where set117 and 113 are rotated back so that the front side of segment 113 endsup tangent with the front side of segment 111, which were both initiallypositioned behind segments 115 and segment 117 respectively. Similarly,the second fold illustrated in the fourth position of the foldingsequence diagram illustrates segments 125 and 121 along axis 137 so thatthe back face of segment 121 is rotated to a position that places ittangent to the back side of segment 119, which sits below segment 123.The resulting position of the two folds from position four can be seenin position five of the folding sequence diagram where only two sets ofsegments are left to be folded. A crucial part of the folding sequenceshown in FIG. 1 is the in fact that there is no physical connectionbetween segments 121 and 117. This essentially allows two primary setsto be folded in the sequence so that only two segment sets need to befolded at any given fold. Once a fold has more than two segments,difficulties with the electronic connection, which is best implementedwith a flexible circuit, can occur when two sets need to be physicallydisplaced with the same distance that a set of pieces is repositionedto, between a fold. Having more than two sets of two segments makes afold very difficult to achieve if electrical connections are to remainattached. An alternative to a displaced connection would be to haveextra slack on a flexible circuit between each display segment. This isideal with computing device 100 from FIG. 2 a, because of the smallernumber of segments it uses. In the final two positions of the foldingsequence diagram, a last fold is illustrated along axis 129 where thetop set of segments, 115, 111, 113, and 117 are rotated down in aposition tangent with the bottom set of segments, 123, 119, 121, and125, where the front side of segment 115 is positioned tangent to theback side of segment 123. A final position in the folding sequence whichshows the computing device 109 in a compact state with the form factorof a phone has a front face which is the front side of segment 117, anda back side, which is the back side of segment 125. Having segment 125on the bottom ultimately allows the computing module 127 to bepositioned as the back side of the computing device 109 in its compactstate.

Referring to FIG. 2 c, two folding sequences for two separateembodiments of the disclosed invention are provided. The first foldingsequence 150 shows the same sequence and computing device 109 shown inFIG. 1, but is illustrated above a second folding sequence 170 with acomputing device 160 to show the similarities between both foldingpatterns. The primary difference between the computing device 109 andcomputing device 160 is in the fact that the computing device 160 hassix segments instead of eight. Because the folding logic in the firstfolding sequence 150 provides a transformation where the computingmodule 152, which is coupled to segment 155, does not interfere with anyother segments, it is ideal to apply a similar method of transformationfor any configuration with fewer number segments where at least onesegment is connected on three sides with additional segments. Sincesegment 147 ends up as the front face of the touch screen display forthe compact state and segment 155 and the computing module 152 ends upas the back side of the compact state in the sixth position in the firstfolding sequence 150, applying the same axes and folding rotations tocomputing device 160 and the second folding sequence 170 provides asimilar optimization in its transition from an open state to a compactstate as well. This can be seen with segment 169 and segment 177 in thesecond folding sequence, where segment 169 is repositioned from the topright corner of the computing device 160, shown in the first position atthe left side of the sequence, to the top of the computing device 160,shown in the sixth position at the right side of the sequence.

When comparing each position of both folding sequences shown in FIG. 2c, segments 145 and 147, when folded from their third position to theirfourth position along axis 163 include two sets of segments, 141 and143, from a previous fold. In contrast, segments 167 and 169, fromcomputing device 160, fold along axis 183 between the third position andthe fourth position of the second folding sequence 170 as individualsegments. The bottom half of segments in computing device 109, whichinclude segments 149, 151, 153, and 155, have the same configuration andfolding pattern when compared with segments 171, 173, 175, and 177 ofcomputing device 160 shown in the second folding sequence 160.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram which illustrates the basic electronichardware components for the present invention. The computing device 180has a processor 187 which is coupled to several other components. Basedupon the scope of functionality of the computing device 180, an optimalprocessor would include one from the Texas Instruments OMAP series, suchas the OMAP 3530, OMAP 4430, or OMAP 4440. These processors, or systemon chips (SOCs), are ideal because of their ability to run commonoperating systems and because of their integration of an ARM processor.They are also ideal because of their ability support a variety ofdifferent audio and video applications. The memory controller 199, whichis also coupled to the processor 187, can control non-volatile memory201 and volatile memory 203. The non-volatile memory may include avariety of different solid-state systems, including but not limited toflash memory and magnetic disc storage. An external hard disk drive mayalso be attached via the data port 217, which would optimize the memoryfor the computing device 180, because of its small scale.

The memory for the computing device 180 also includes stored softwareprograms which consist of several different components. Most generally,an operating system component, i.e., Linux, UNIX, Android or Symbian, isstored to control other primary functions such as wirelesscommunication, communication with external devices, power management,text input features such as e-mail, Internet browser, Global PositioningSystem (GPS), music and video players, along with a number of otheradditional features.

The data port 215 acts as the primary connection for communicating withother devices through Universal Serial Bus (USB) or other similar andcommon communication means. Additionally, a High-Definition MultimediaInterface, or HDMI port 217, is included to provide a connection withother devices such as video projectors, digital audio systems, computermonitors, and other additional devices for optimizing audio and visualoutputs.

Display drivers 191 are also included to control the segmented touchscreen display. Controlling content on the display is important becauseof its constant transition from a single screen, when the segmentedtouch screen display 193 is in a compact state, to multiple segments,when the segmented touch screen display 193 is in an open, expandedstate. Furthermore, to facilitate this transition, two sets of sensorsare integrated into the computing device 180. The first set, called thesegment sensors 195, are located on the edges of segments and controland activate the segmented touch screen display 193 when it is in afully open state. The folded state sensors 197, which are located on thefaces of segments, alternatively, control and activate the segmentedtouch screen display when it is in a folded, compact state, by rescalingany content to the single screen that is used as the face of thecomputing device 180, in its compact state. These sensors and thetransition of content will be further discussed in later references toFIG. 4 and FIGS. 13-18.

For basic phone functionality, a pre-amp circuit 207, microphone 209 andspeaker 211 are included. Additional folding sensors 213 are alsointegrated in one embodiment where the computing device 180 has aspeaker that can rotate from a closed position at the back of thecomputing device 180, to an open and functional position along its frontside. The speaker 211 can also be used with a higher amplitude when thecomputing device 180 is in an open laptop state. This feature will alsobe elaborated on in later references to FIGS. 17 and 18.

Additional features in the block diagram shown in FIG. 3, include acamera 219, a subscriber identity module (SIM) or removable useridentity module (R-UIM) card 225 with a corresponding card interface227, auxiliary i/o 221, which can include an audio jack and otherpossible ports, and additional device subsystems 231. The radiofrequency or RF module 229 ultimately controls all wirelesscommunication for both the internet and phone functionality. Thisincludes but is not limited to communicating with networks, such as theWorld Wide Web (WWW), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), WirelessPersonal Area Network (WPAN), standard cellular telephone networks, andso on. A number of communications standards and systems may also beused, including but not limited to Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth,Post Office Protocol (POP), along with a number of other standards andsystems as well.

It is important to note that although a particular configuration ofhardware and software components has been described for the blockdiagram shown in FIG. 3, these components and their configurations mayalso be arranged with additional components and in other combinations toachieve the same basic computing functions.

Referring to FIG. 4, a flowchart illustrates one embodiment of asequence of events for transitioning content on the reconfigurable touchscreen display from a compact state to an expanded state. State 1, block237, represents the reconfigurable touch screen computing device when itis in its compact state with content showing on the a single screendisplay. As the touch screen display is unfolded, a first determination239 is made about whether or not the folding state sensors, which arelocated on the faces of the touch screen display, are broken fromseparating the screen segments, which will ultimately shut down allscreen segments, block 241. Once the touch screen display has been fullyopened, a second determination 243 is made about whether or not allsegment sensors, which are located between the edges of the touch screendisplay segments, are connected. If they are connected, then the screenwill turn on in state 2, block 245. If they are not connected, then thescreen will remain off. A third determination 247 is then made basedupon whether or not the screen from state 1, block 237, had two areas ofcontent. If yes, then the top area of content is rescaled to the topfour segments of the touch screen display, while the lower area ofcontent is rescaled to the bottom four segments of the touch screendisplay, block 249. If that is not the case then a fourth determination251 is made about rescaling the content from state 1. If there was onearea of content, then the content is rescaled to all segments, block253. When the screen is to be folded back to state 1, a fifthdetermination 255 is then made about whether or not all screen segmentsensors are connected. If they are not connected due to folding, thenthe screen will shut down, block 257. If they are, then the content willremain present on the screen in state 2. A final determination 259 isthen made about whether or not the folding state sensors are activated,which occurs when the segments faces are tangent with each other. Ifthey are, then the entire sequence will return to state 1 where allcontent is rescaled back to the single screen display that acts as theface of the computing device's compact state.

As an alternative method to the features and sequence described in FIG.4, both the sensors that lie between the edges of the segments and thesensors that lie on the faces of the segments, can simply perform thefunction of shutting the screen off when their connections are brokenduring a folding sequence. For turning the screen on in either state, amanually operated mechanical push button, membrane switch, force sensingresistor, or other form of manual electromechanical switching means maybe used. A first manual electromechanical switch may also be designatedspecifically for turning the touch screen display on in a compact state,while a second manual electromechanical switch may be used for turningthe touch screen display on in an expanded state. These manualelectromechanical switches can also be used to turn the screen off ineither state, which would ultimately bypass the use of any previouslydefined sensors and their designated functions.

A flexible circuit 263 for the computing device 109 is illustrated inFIG. 5. The flexible circuit 263 is made up of multiple sections whichcorrespond to each segment of the touch screen display. In theembodiment illustrated, eight segments are shown. The processor and amajority of the electronics are housed in segment 261. Although thedisplay drivers can be housed in other segments, it is best to alsohouse them in segment 261 to retain the thinnest possible screenconfiguration, which is especially important when the touch screendisplay is folded into its compact state.

Traces 265 for the flexible circuit provide an electronic connection tothe touch screen display of each segment. The touch-sensitive componentof the display is preferably a capacitive touch screen. Other methods oftouch screen can be used too, such one with a 4-wire analog sensor.

The screen for each segment may include Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD),which can be as thin a little over a millimeter, or they may also bemade up of Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED) displays, which wouldalso be advantageous because of their efficient use of power and thinassembly. The traces 265 can be seen ending at flexible circuit section271. Each flexible circuit section shown in FIG. 5 ultimately providesan electronic connection to a display and a touch screen which uses anultra-thin connector, such as a Molex SlimStack SMT, which can be asthin as 0.90 millimeters.

Additionally shown in FIG. 5 is a sliding connector 267. A slidingconnector is also illustrated in the flexible circuit 273, which isshown without traces in FIG. 6 for clarity, whereby flexible circuitsection 277 and flexible circuit section 275 overlap at connection 279.Sliding connector 281 can be seen enlarged in FIG. 7. This connectioncan first be seen in an initial state 283 where an overlappingconnection 286 provides a link between two different flexible circuitssection, which ultimately bridges between the joint of two touch screendisplay segments. A second state 285 is illustrated in FIG. 7 withconnector 287 and connector 289 is shown moving in opposite directionsfrom each other, while still providing a connection. As discussedearlier, having a sliding connector between each touch screen displaysegment joint allows the flexible circuit to remain in a position that,when folded, conforms to the displaced surface of the fold, whether itbe between segments sets with one segment each or as many as threestacks of segments each.

FIG. 8 shows the back side of the basic structure for the reconfigurabletouch screen computing device 109 in a partially exploded configuration.Preferably, each segment may have a rigid but light weight material fora backing, such as aluminum or titanium. In between each segment, asleeve is shown which is used to house each flexible circuit.Preferably, each sleeve may also have elastic properties, so that it canstretched when a set of segments are reconfigured. These sleeves may notonly provide a housing for the flexible circuits, but they may also actas an alignment feature and a mechanical connection between segments.

The number and location of hinges may be varied according to embodimentsof the invention. For example, in the embodiment shown, although hinges323 and 325 are used between segments 315 and 333 to provide a rigidfolding connection between both halves of the entire touch screendisplay to provide the basic mechanical functionality of a laptop, otherdepicted segments do not include hinges, insofar as doing so may createadditional material and thickness to the computing device 109 when it isin a fully folded, compact state.

Also shown in FIG. 8 is a series of channel openings along the edges ofeach segment. For segment 291, channel opening 301 engages with one sideof sleeve 311, while channel opening 303 on panel 307 engages with theother side of sleeve 311. On the bottom edge of segment 291, a secondchannel opening 293 engages with one side of sleeve 297, while thechannel opening 295 for segment 231 engages with the other side ofsleeve 297. Additional sleeves 309, 329, 401 and 405 are situated alongone axis, while additional sleeves 313, 331 and 403 may act to holdsegments together along an axis perpendicular to the first axis. Thecomputing module 409 is also shown in this plan view where peripheralports 407 can also be seen. It is will be noted that in the depictedembodiment shows, as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, there may be a breakbetween segments 335 and 337.

Referring to FIG. 9, a simple diagram of a folding sequence of two touchscreen display segments being reconfigured is shown with threepositions. Segments 411 and 413 are shown in a first position at theleft side of sequence in a locked functional position which allows bothsegments to display a combined area of content when in a locked state.In the second position of the sequence, segments 411 and 413 are shownin a separated position. An elastic sleeve 417 is situated betweensegments 411 and 413 to provide a housing for the flexible circuitconnecting the segments. A magnet 415 is situated along the edge andback side of segment 411 which provides a lock for both segments whenconnected to a second magnet 419, which is situated along the edge andback side of segment 413, allowing two segments to snap together withoutextra bulky hardware, such as mechanical hinges. Adjacent to magnets 415and 419 are sensors 416 which determine whether or not segments 411 and413 are connected, which ultimately communicates to the processor if thescreen should be on or off. In the third position seen at the right sideof the sequence, segments 411 and 413 are shown being further separatedand rotated down so that it can eventually be repositioned where theback sides of each segments are tangent with each other. The elasticsleeve 417 in position three is also further separated to conform todisplacement needed for both panels to separated and then reconfigured.

The folding and repositioning of two segments can also be seen in asectional view in FIG. 10. It is useful to view embodiment shown in FIG.10 in conjunction with FIG. 5-9. Segments 423 and 437 are shown in afolding sequence with four positions. In the first position, segments423 and 437 have a first screen 425 and a second screen 435 with a firstbacking 427 and a second backing 433. The first backing 427 has achannel where a first sliding connector 429 is fixed to the firstbacking 427. A second sliding connector 431 is fixed to the secondbacking 433. In the second position of the folding sequence, segment 437is shown rotating towards a secondary position around segment 423.Because of the displacement caused by this rotation, the first slidingconnector 429 and the second sliding connector end up in a new displacedposition while still connected. The elastic sleeve 441 may house theflexible circuit 439, which is ultimately stretched to conform to eachnew position in the sequence between segments 423 and 427.

In the third of the sequence shown in FIG. 10, the first slidingconnector 429 and the second sliding connector 431 become furtherdisplaced while still remaining connected. In the fourth position of thesequence, segments 423 and 437 are shown in a fully folded state wherebythe faces of the first screen 425 and the second screen 435 are sittingtangent and flat against each other with the elastic sleeve 441,flexible circuit 439, and the first sliding connector 429 and secondsliding connector are all in a new displaced, but compact position.

It will be noted that although the depiction shown in FIGS. 9 and 10show only two segments, this same structure can be applied to any or alledges of some or all segments that have a connection between each other.It will further be noted that as an alternative to having slidingconnections, connections may also be permanently fixed with additionalslack on each flexible circuit portion that sits between segments, sothat it can conform from the geometry of one folded state position toanother. As another alternative, a stretchable circuit may also be usedbetween touch screen display segments.

Referring to FIG. 11, computing device 100 is shown folding from atablet state to a phone state in a sequence with five positions. Thissame folding pattern can also be seen in FIG. 2 a, where computingdevice 100 is shown in a perspective view to emphasize its foldingpattern. FIG. 11 is shown with a side view and emphasizes frame hinge114 which is connected between the frames of segment 101 and segment103. Segment 107 and segment 105 are located on the other side ofsegments 103 and 101, but are rotated to a position tangent to segments103 and 101, which can be seen in the second position from the top. Inthis same second position, segment set 107 and 103 can be pulled away bya user from segment set 101 and 105 through slots located on both endsof frame hinge 114, which are attached to pins inside of the frame edgesof segments 101 and 103. In the third position and fourth position fromthe top of the folding sequence shown in FIG. 11, the rotation ofsegment set 107 and 103 along a pivot axis located where frame hinge 114is attached to segment 101, allows computing device 100 to thenreconfigure to the phone state position illustrated in the finalposition at the bottom of the sequence. Because of the slots and lengthof frame hinge 114, segments 103 and 107 can ultimately be offset fromsegment 101 and guided in such a way that segment 105 does not interferewith the folding sequence and ends up positioning segment 103 so that itis tangent with the underside face of segment 105 in the final position.For extra stability, a second hinge that is parallel with frame hinge114 could also be integrated on the other side of segments 103 and 101,so that it is situated at the center of computing device 100 when it isin a tablet state configuration, which would then end up along its edgewhen it is in a phone state configuration.

In FIG. 12, an alignment locking mechanism is illustrated in a sequencewith three different positions. In the full assembly of computing device100, touch screen displays may sit above each of the segments, but theyare not shown in the diagram to better illustrate this particularembodiment of an alignment locking mechanism which is situated beloweach of the screens with a thin housing. The first position at the topof the page shows computing device 100 and segments 101, 103, 105, and107 in an unlocked position. Alignment plate 430 is shown at rest in aninitial state located within a housing that sits within segment 105.Alignment plate 432 can also be seen at rest in the first within segment103. Alignment plates 436 and 434 are initially housed within segment107 in the first position. A larger frame component can be seen alongthe left and right side of computing device 100, similar to what isshown in FIG. 2 a, whereby a speaker is located in the upper left cornerfor segment 101. Because of the larger size of this frame, additionalelectronics, including extra sensors, a keypad, and even batteries couldbe integrated in such a way that they would not interfere or add extrathickness to the device where the alignment mechanism is located. Tocontinue with the description of the diagram from FIG. 12, the secondposition shows alignment plates 430, 432, 434, and 436 being actuated bythe rotation of disc 438. This disc is driven manually by a user fromthe outside edge of segment 107 by a small switch that is attached tolink 450 which can be moved along a linear track. As disc 438 rotates,link 452 forces alignment plate 434 into segment 103. Because alignmentplate 434 is tangent with alignment plate 432, the force from one plateis translated to the other plate, allowing alignment plate 432 to movefrom segment 103 to segment 101. Similarly, alignment plate 436 isillustrated moving from segment 107 to 105 and is actuated by link 454,which is also driven by disc 438 and link 450. The force from alignmentplate 436 is also translated over to alignment plate 430 which movesfrom segment 105 to segment 101. In the third position of the diagramshown at the bottom of FIG. 12, the final locking position isillustrated with all four alignment plates each lock two segmentstogether. Alignment plate 430 connects and locks segment 105 and 101,while alignment plate 432 connects and locks segments 103 and 101.Alignment plate 434 also connects segments 107 and 103, while alignmentplate 436 connects and locks segments 107 and 105. The alignment platesalso have slots that can be seen engaging with pins on each of thesegments that each alignment plate is being moved and connected to.Because of the force that needs to be repeatedly applied to theintegrated touch screen component of the device, these alignment platesnot only provide a connection and a means for locking the whole assemblytogether, but they also provide structural support between each segmentas well. This alignment mechanism can also be applied to a flexibletouch screen display version of the computing device, which will befurther elaborated on with FIGS. 23 and 24.

FIG. 13 illustrates the computing device 109 in three states. The firststate shows the computing device 109 in a compact phone state, thesecond state shows the computing device 109 in a laptop position, andthe third state shows the computing device 109 in a closed laptop state.Hinges 469 and 471 are located at the back side of the computing device109 in state three such that the top four segments can be folded down.When the laptop state is closed, a set of sensors 455 and 465 that lieon a support structure 457 located along the edges of the screensegments, will indicate to the processor and a software component thatthe screen should be shut down when they are connected. Alternatively,when sensors 455 and 453 are connected, this will indicate that thecomputing device is configured in a compact state. Additional sensors473 and 475 which are located on the back side of the laptop stateconfiguration, seen in the third state, can also be connected toindicate that the computing device is in a compact state. This can alsobe seen in FIG. 14 where the second position shows the first foldedposition which will ultimately connect sensors 473 and 475 from the backside of the screen configuration with each other. It is important tonote that a variety of different types of sensors may also be used forthe disclosed invention, including but not limited to optical sensors,force sensing resistors (FSRs), magnetic sensors and so on.

Additional support hinges 459, 449, 461 and 462 are included with theembodiments from FIGS. 13 and 14. The second state shown in FIG. 14shows hinges 459 and 449 supporting the fold seen in the upper foursegments of that transitional folding position. A second set of hinges479 and 485 are also located between the upper and lower two segmentsalong the central axis of the entire touch screen display. A fixedspeaker 443 is shown in the first compact state of FIG. 13 along supportstructure 445, and again in the second state from FIG. 13. Having thespeaker 443 in this location provides a logical position for it in boththe compact state and closed state. The same speaker can be seen withcomputing device 109 in all three states from FIG. 14.

FIG. 15 illustrates a graphical user interface whereby a set of virtualbuttons 501 are used to rescale content from when the computing device109 is in a compact state 495, to an expanded state 502. The content 497shown in the screen display of the compact state 495, first transitionsto the expanded state 502 in the area that is made up by the lowersegments 499, while the upper half can remain blank. The content canthen be seen in three separate states in FIG. 15 where it is rescaledbased upon which of the virtual buttons 501 has been indicated. Thefirst content transition 504 shows the original content 497 rescaled tothe upper segments 503 of the computing device 109. The second contenttransition 506 shows the content 497 rescaled to the lower segments 499,and the third content transition 506 shows the content 497 rescaled tothe entire combined screen area of the upper segments 503 and the lowersegments 508.

The flowchart from FIG. 4 can be better appreciated when referring toFIG. 16-18 because of the correlation to how content is transitionedfrom one state to another. In FIG. 16, the computing device 109 shows anupper area of content with a text window 517 and a lower area of contentwith a virtual keyboard 519 on the compact state 521 and its touchscreen display 523. When the computing device is opened to a laptopstate 530, the text window 517 is rescaled to the upper segments 520,while the virtual keyboard 519 is rescaled to the lower segments 525 ofthe laptop state 520. The lower segments where virtual keyboard 519 isdisplayed may alternatively be the location of a physical keyboard whichwould also be configured with a similar size and layout to virtualkeyboard 519.

Similarly, in FIG. 17 two areas of content are rescaled from thecomputing device 109 when it is in a compact state 521. The upper areaof content shows a browser window 527 which is rescaled to the uppersegments 520 of the laptop state 530, while the lower area of content,which shows an applications window 531, is rescaled to the lowersegments 531 of the laptop state.

In FIG. 18, a content area shows a newspaper 533 on the touch screendisplay of the computing device 109 while it is in a compact state 521.When the computing device 109 is rescaled to the laptop state 537, thenewspaper 533 content is automatically rescaled to the entire display. Athird state is also shown in FIG. 18 showing how the device can beflattened into a tablet, which would be most convenient for thisparticular scenario.

Referring to FIG. 19, the reconfigurable touch screen computing deviceis shown in a compact state, where a speaker module 541 is rotated fromthe computing module 545 in the first position 549, to the front side ina second position 551 where a folded touch screen 543 is located. Athird position shows how the speaker module 541 can slide forward pastthe folded touch screen 543 to a third position 553 where it shares thesame datum as the first touch screen display segment of the folded touchscreen 543. This mechanical rotation ultimately allows a screen to beviewed without any additional hardware for a speaker that might normallytake away from the scale of a touch screen display that is being used asa phone. When the speaker module 541 is fully rotated to the thirdposition, an integrated sensor or switch can be activated which willultimately answer an incoming phone call. FIG. 19 can be betterunderstood when viewed in conjunction with FIG. 20, which shows threeside views 555, 557, and 559, of the same rotation of the speaker module541. A channel 547 is also shown in FIG. 20 to illustrate where thespeaker module is rotating out from. A microphone 561 is also integratedat the bottom of computing module 545.

FIG. 21 shows a similar diagram as FIG. 19 with three positions of areconfigurable touch screen computing device shown in a phone state. Itis important to note that this particular computing device, along withthe one shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, could be made up of a folded segmentedtouch screen, flexible screen, or just a single screen on its own. Inthe first position 545 of FIG. 21, speaker 571 is located along frame573 at the top of segment 575, which also includes a touch screendisplay. A microphone module 579 can be rotated forward from computingmodule 577, as illustrated in the second position 567, before being slidforward in such a way that it shares the same front face surface of thecomputing device, which can be seen in position 569. This sametransitional diagram can also be seen with a side view in FIG. 22, whichalso illustrates how microphone module 579 is rotated out from channel581 located at the lower end of computing module 577. Althoughmicrophone module 579 has been defined with fixed speaker 575 at the topof this particular embodiment, both of these components can be reversed,where the speaker is located as part of the rotatable module at thebottom and the microphone is fixed at the top of segment 575.

A reconfigurable computing device with a flexible screen is illustratedin FIG. 23. This particular embodiment is similar to computing device100 shown in FIG. 2 a because it integrates four segments as structuralsupports with an alignment mechanism, but uses a flexible screeninstead. This flexible screen 580 can be seen in an open tablet state inthree different diagrams which illustrate different features of thecomputing device. Flexible screen 580 also sits within segments 583,585, 587, and 589. In the diagram at the top of FIG. 23, slit 599 isillustrated in the location of where a kink or a crease might occur dueto the double fold that this particular computing device embodimentneeds to be folded with in order to be fully reconfigured to a phonestate. Having slit 599 with a length of about a half an inch runningeither left to right or top to bottom, will prevent a kink or creasefrom forming. The folding areas can be seen in the second diagram fromthe top where fold area 601, shown running from left to right,represents where the first fold is made, while fold area 603, runningfrom top to bottom, represents where the second fold is made. These foldareas also represent where a radius occurs when the computing device isfully folded into a phone state. In the third diagram at the bottom ofFIG. 23, an exploded image of the computing device is shown withflexible screen 580 and segments 583, 585, 587, and 589 representing thetop assembly, while lower segments 591, 593, 595, and 597, withsegmented disc plate 605 make up the bottom half assembly.

Similar to the alignment mechanism illustrated in FIG. 12, disc plate605 from FIG. 23 is also an alignment locking mechanism made up of foursections which each correspond to a particular segment of the computingdevice where they are also housed. Each section of disc plate 605 canalso be rotated in such a way that it connects and locks each of thesegments together. To lock the device in a tablet state, link 607 isdriven and accessed by a user from the outside edge of segment 596 inorder. This is achieved when a small switch 619 attached to the outsideedge of link 607 is moved along a linear slot, while the inside edge oflink 607, which is connected to section 615 of disc plate 605, movesalong a curved slot 609 which ultimately translates the users inputforce to the rotational motion of disc plate 605. The rotational motionof disc plate 605 is held in place by a plurality of slots integratedwith each section of disc plate 605 that engage with pins located onlower segments 591, 593, 595, and 597. One example of this is where pin613, which is located on the inside surface of segment 597, engages withslot 611 which runs between disc plate section 621, which is initiallypositioned above segments 595, and disc plate section 615, which ispositioned above segment 597. As disc plate 605 rotates, slot 611 willslide along pin 613 until disc plate section 621 is repositioned to thepoint where it connects and locks segments 595 and 597 together. Thissame mechanism is used for each section of disc plate 605, whereby discplate section 615 connects and locks segments 597 and 593, which alsoforces disc plate section 617 into a position that connects and lockssegments 593 and 591. This same rotation also simultaneously forces discplate section 619 to connect and lock segments 591 and 595 together. Tounlock the tablet state, a user can slide switch 623 back to theoriginal position shown in the exploded diagram of FIG. 23. Because discplate 605 is made up of sections that conform to the rectangulargeometry of each segment, the computing device is free to be foldedalong the central axis from top to bottom and from left to right when itis in the unlocked position. It is important to note that this samealignment locking mechanism may also be applied to a computing devicethat includes four touch screen display segments, like the embodimentshown in FIG. 2 a, rather than having just a single flexible touchscreen display.

FIG. 24 elaborates on the folding pattern needed to reconfigure the samecomputing device shown in FIG. 23 from a tablet state to a phone state.The folding sequence consists of seven different positions. Eachposition shows the frame for the computing device reconfiguring with anattached flexible screen 631. A folded screen housing 637 is alsoillustrated throughout the folding sequence where it is shown with frameposition 641 in a closed state where it sits at the bottom of thecomputing device. In frame position 643, folded screen housing 637 isshown folding out along a hinge on the edge of the computing device andthen fully folded up with frame position 645. Folded screen housing 637remains in this same position for frame positions 647, 649, and 651 sothat it does not interfere with the folding pattern of flexible screen631. For frame position 653, however, folded screen housing 637 isfolded back to its original position, as seen with frame position 651and 653, to house the fully folded flexible screen so that the computingdevice can then be implemented as a phone. The folding pattern itself isvery simple and essentially consists of two folds. The first fold isalong the center axis running from the right side to the left side,which can be seen with frame position 645, whereby half of flexiblescreen 631 is folded downward so that its back side is tangent with theback side of the other half. Once flexible screen 631 is fully folded inframe position 647, it may then be folded further along the center axisthat runs from the top to the bottom of flexible screen 631, as seenwith frame position 649. Frame positions 621 and 623 then show howspeaker 635 ends up in an optimal position for when the computing deviceis used as a phone.

While certain features of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, andequivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is,therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended tocover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spiritof the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a plurality oftouch-sensitive displays, including at least one principal displayhaving at least one rigid display segment, and at least one auxiliarydisplay having at least two flexible display segments, said auxiliarydisplay having a folded state and an expanded state.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1, comprising a speaker and a microphone, wherein said principaldisplay segment comprises a first end and a second end, said first endbeing opposed to said second end, wherein in the folded state, thespeaker is proximate to the first end of the principal display segment,and the microphone is proximate to the second end of the principaldisplay segment.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a speaker and amicrophone, wherein said principal display segment comprises a first endand a second end, said first end being opposed to said second end,wherein the speaker is proximate to the first end of the principaldisplay segment, and the microphone is proximate to the second end ofthe principal display segment.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, comprisingat least one hardware component for generating a signal, said hardwarecomponent having a first signal corresponding to a folded state of theauxiliary display and a second signal corresponding to an expanded stateof the auxiliary display; a processor to: obtain an image to bedisplayed, and display the image based on the signal output of thehardware component, wherein when the first signal is generated, theprocessor is to display the image substantially on the principaldisplay, and when the second signal is generated, the processor is todisplay the image substantially on the auxiliary display.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 4, wherein said hardware component is a sensor. 6.The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said hardware component is anelectromechanical switch.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein saidhardware component is a manually operable switch having a momentaryposition, wherein when said momentary position is activated, saidmanually operable switch can generate said first signal or said secondsignal.
 8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said hardware component isa manually operable switch having a first position and a secondposition, wherein when said manually operable switch is in said firstposition, said first signal is generated, and when said manuallyoperable switch is in said second position, said second signal isgenerated.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said principle displaysegment and said auxiliary display segments each include a respectivemagnetic component, said magnetic component causing the principledisplay segment and the auxiliary display segments to be mutuallyattracted in the folded state.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinsaid principle display segment and said auxiliary display segments eachinclude a respective magnetic component, said magnetic component causingthe principle display segment and the auxiliary display segments to bemutually attracted in the expanded state.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said principle display segment and said auxiliary displaysegments each include structural housings which are connected to eachother by hinge elements.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising atleast four display segments, wherein one display segment is part of saidrigid principle display, and three segments are part of said flexibleauxiliary display.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising at leastfive display segments, wherein one display segment is part of said rigidprinciple display, and four segments are part of said flexible auxiliarydisplay.
 14. An apparatus comprising: a plurality of touch-sensitivedisplays, including at least one principal display having at least onerigid display segment, and at least one auxiliary display having atleast two flexible display segments, said auxiliary display having afolded state and an expanded state; at least one speaker and at leastone microphone, wherein when the auxiliary display is in a folded state,the speaker and microphone are configured with the principle displaysuch that the apparatus is operable as a phone.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 14, wherein said principal display segment comprises a first endand a second end, said first end being opposed to said second end,wherein in the folded state, the speaker is proximate to the first endof the principal display segment, and the microphone is proximate to thesecond end of the principal display segment.
 16. The apparatus of claim14, comprising at least one hardware component for generating a signal,said hardware component having a first signal corresponding to a foldedstate of the auxiliary display and a second signal corresponding to anexpanded state of the auxiliary display.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16,wherein said hardware component is a sensor.
 18. The apparatus of claim16, wherein said hardware component is an electromechanical switch. 19.The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said hardware component is a manuallyoperable switch having a momentary position, wherein when said momentaryposition is activated, said manually operable switch can generate saidfirst signal or said second signal.
 20. The apparatus of claim 16,wherein said hardware component is a manually operable switch having afirst position and a second position, wherein when said manuallyoperable switch is in said first position, said first signal isgenerated, and when said manually operable switch is in said secondposition, said second signal is generated.
 21. The apparatus of claim14, wherein said principle display segment and said auxiliary displaysegments each include a respective magnetic component, said magneticcomponent causing the principle display segment and the auxiliarydisplay segments to be mutually attracted in the folded state.
 22. Theapparatus of claim 14, wherein said principle display segment and saidauxiliary display segments each include a respective magnetic component,said magnetic component causing the principle display segment and theauxiliary display segments to be mutually attracted in the expandedstate.
 23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said principle displaysegment and said auxiliary display segments each include structuralhousings which are connected to each other by hinge elements.
 24. Theapparatus of claim 14, comprising at least four display segments,wherein one display segment is part of said rigid principle display, andthree segments are part of said flexible auxiliary display.
 25. Theapparatus of claim 14, comprising at least five display segments,wherein one display segment is part of said rigid principle display, andfour segments are part of said flexible auxiliary display.